8162580
`
`September 30, 2021
`
`THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT ANNEXED IS A TRUE COPY FROM THE
`RECORDS OF THIS OFFICE OF THE FILE WRAPPER AND CONTENTS
`OF:
`
`APPLICATION NUMBER: 14/922,344
`FILING DATE: October 26, 2015
`PATENT NUMBER: 9736664
`ISSUE DATE: August 15, 2017
`
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`PTO/AIA/15 (03-13)
`Approved for use through 01/31/2014. OMB 0651-0032
`U.S, Patent and Trademark Office; U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
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`iespond to a collection of informatiomation unless it displa! lays
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`ia valid OMB control number
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`
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`PATENT APPLICATION
`
`TRANSMITTAL
`(Only for new nonprovisional applications under 37 CFR 1,53/b})
`
`IPVMOPO2CS
`
`Title
`
`CHEUNG etal
`TOMANAGE MULTIPLE MODES OF COMMATid
`SYSTEMS ANDES
`
`APPLICATION ELEMENTS
`See MPEP chapter 600 concerning utility patent application contents,
`
`ADDRESS TO:
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
`
`1. [+] Fee Transmittal Form
`(PTO/S8/17 or equivalent)
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`Applicant must attach form PTO/SB/154 or 8 or equivalent,
`]
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`(See MPEP § 608.01/a) for information on the preferred arrangement)
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`See 37 CFR 1.76 (PTO/AIA/14 or equivalent)
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`aty|—“i‘“C;S™SC*drSCCtState|O—Citi‘“*;*C*C*C*dCMpme|CC—CidzC
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`October 26, 2015
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`SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO MANAGE MULTIPLE
`
`MODES OF COMMUNICATION
`
`CROSS-REFERENCETO RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`[0001]
`
`This application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application No.
`
`14/272,632, filed May 8, 2014, and entitled “SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO
`
`MANAGE MULTIPLE MODES OF COMMUNICATION,” which
`
`is hereby
`
`incorporated by reference, which application is a continuation of U.S. Patent
`
`Application No. 12/798,995,filed April 14, 2010, now U.S. Patent No. 8,744,407,
`
`and entitled "SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO MANAGE MULTIPLE MODES
`
`OF COMMUNICATION,” which is hereby incorporated herein by reference, which
`
`application is a continuation of U.S. Patent Application 11/452,115, filed June 12,
`
`2006,
`
`now U.S. Patent No. 7,729,688,
`
`and entitled
`
`“SYSTEMS AND
`
`PROCESSES TO MANAGE MULTIPLE MODES OF COMMUNICATION", which
`
`is hereby incorporated herein by reference, which application is a continuation-in-
`
`part application of U.S. Patent Application 11/006,343, filed December 7, 2004,
`
`now U.S. Patent No. 7,116,976, and entitled “ADAPTABLE COMMUNICATION
`
`TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” which is hereby incorporated
`
`herein by reference, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application
`
`No.
`
`60/527,565,
`
`filed December
`
`8,
`
`2003,
`
`entitled
`
`“ADAPTABLE
`
`COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES,” and which is
`
`hereby incorporated herein by reference.
`
`[0002]
`
`This application, by way of U.S. Patent Application No. 11/452,115,
`
`also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/689,686,filed
`
`June 10, 2005, entitled “SYSTEMS AND PROCESSES TO MANAGE MULTIPLE
`
`MODES OF COMMUNICATION,” and which is hereby incorporated herein by
`
`reference.
`
`IPVMCP02C4
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`|
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`Patent Application
`
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`BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION
`
`[0003]
`
`For many years, other than mails from postoffices, we typically only
`
`received information from afar through telephones. However,
`
`in the past few
`
`years, ways that others can send us information have increasedsignificantly. Just
`
`to list a few different modes of communication, we can be reached from standard
`
`desk phones,
`
`fax, cell phones, electronic mails, and instant messages.
`
`In
`
`addition, we can have more than one phone numberand multiple electronic mail
`
`addresses. There are people welike to communicate with, and there are those
`
`we prefer to avoid. Managing information from all such different modes can be
`
`quite time consuming.
`[0004]
`lt should be apparent from the foregoing that there is still a need to
`
`help manage the numerous modesof communication.
`
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`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`[0005]
`
`Different embodiments of a computer-implemented system and
`
`method to manage the communication of a user are disclosed. A person tries to
`
`electronically convey a message to the user.
`
`In one embodiment, the status of
`
`the useris identified; the identity of the person is identified; the urgency of the
`
`message is identified; the accesspriority of the person is determined based on
`
`the person's identity; and a process is set to manage the message using one or
`
`more rules, and in view of the status of the user, the accesspriority of the person
`and the urgency of the message.
`
`[0006]
`
`Based on different embodiments, the status of the user depends on
`
`the current activity or location of the user, or the current time. The status of the
`user can also be defined by the user. Similarly, the access priority of the person
`
`can be defined by the user, or is set depending on the user’s reaction towards a
`
`prior message from the person. Also, the urgency of the messageis set by the
`
`person.
`
`[0007]
`
`The process can depend on the mode of communication of the
`
`message. For example, the mode of communication can include a mobile phone,
`
`an office phone, a home phone, a mobile SMS, a pager fram a mobile phone or
`
`PDA, a home/office SMS, mobile online chat, home online chat, a voice mail
`
`with/without instant notification, an office fax, a home fax, a mobile email, and an
`
`email.
`
`[0008]
`
`In one embodiment, the user receives the message through a
`
`handheld device, such as a cellular phone. In another embodiment, the message
`
`is electronically conveyed based on Internet protocol through a website.
`
`[0009]
`
`In one embodiment, though the process allows the user to receive
`
`the message, the person is not aware of the contact information of the user. For
`
`example, the person is not aware of the phone numberof the cellular phone that
`
`the user used to talk to the person. This prevents the person from directly
`
`accessing the user without going through an intermediate control, such as a
`
`website. Similarly, the user does not have to be aware of the contact information
`
`of the person.
`
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`[00010]
`
`ln another embodiment, the defined accesspriority of the person is
`
`stored at a website, allowing the website to access such information without
`
`asking for the user's permission. In one embodiment, the defined accesspriority
`
`is stored in a private database underthe user's control.
`
`[00011]
`
`In one embodiment, text messages could be received in an audio
`
`manner, and audio messagescould be sent as text messages.
`
`[00012]
`
`Other aspects and advantages of the present invention will become
`
`apparent from the following detailed description, which, when taken in conjunction
`with the accompanying drawings,illustrates by way of example the principles of the
`
`invention.
`
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`[00013]
`
`Figure 1 shows a number of
`
`intelligent communication modes
`
`according to one embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00014]
`
`Figure 2 shows a number of contact classes according to one
`
`embodiment of the invention,
`
`Figure 3 shows a number of urgency classes according to one
`[00015]
`embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00016]
`
`Figure 4 shows a numberof statuses of a user according to one
`
`embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00017]
`
`Figure 5 shows one embodiment of an example of an Access
`
`Priority Database according to one embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00018]
`
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a message presentation process
`
`according to one embodimentof the invention.
`
`[00019]
`
`FIG, 7 is a flow diagram of a reply message process according to
`
`one embodiment of the invention.
`
`[00020]
`
`Same numerals in Figures 1-7 are assigned to similar elementsin all
`
`the figures. Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to
`
`Figures 1-7. However, thoseskilled in the art will readily appreciate that the detailed
`
`description given herein with respectto thesefigures is for explanatory purposes as
`
`the invention extends beyond theselimited embodiments.
`
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
`
`[00021]
`
`One embodiment of
`
`the invention can automatically remove
`
`unwanted communications. Certain communications are relatively easy to
`
`determine to be unwanted, such as marketing cold calls and wrong number calls.
`
`Other communications may be more difficult. They can depend notjust on the
`
`sources of the communication, but also the conditions or status of the receiver (a
`
`user) of the communication. The status can be related to the user's current
`
`activity and/or location. For example, when the user is on a train going to work,
`
`the user probably does not mind chatting with his grandchild. However, if the user
`
`is having his yearly review meeting with his boss, the user probably would prefer
`
`to avoid the call from his grandchild, unless it
`
`is an emergency. Based on the
`
`embodiment, communications from sources the user wants to postpone receiving
`
`can be automatically diverted,
`
`[00022]
`
`In one embodiment, the user can get appropriate notification on the
`
`source of the incoming communication request. The attributes of the notification
`
`can depend on the urgency of the communication and/or the status of the user.
`
`[00023]
`
`The user may receive
`
`information from different modes of
`
`communication. For example, the user can have mobile phones,fixed lines at
`
`home or office, emails, SMS, and faxes, with their different numbers and/or
`
`addresses. One embodiment can help the user efficiently manage information
`
`from the different modes. The user only has to rememberone specific address
`
`from one mode of communication. Through that address, the user can receive
`
`communications from all modes of communication, independent of where the
`
`user is, or the type of hardware the user has. This allows the user to efficiently
`
`maintain his communication from the numerous modes even when heis traveling.
`
`For example, the user does not have to change phones(and the phone numbers)
`
`when he movesfrom areas covering 3G to areasthat do not.
`
`[00024]
`A number of embodiments depend on the different modes of
`communication converging onto the internet protocol platform. A communication
`
`gatewayor a portal is formed allowing the user to receive communications from
`
`numerous sources through different modes. This,
`
`in turn, could reduce the
`
`IPVMCP02CS
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`numerous addresses the user has to remember, to one address. For example, an
`
`e-mail address for the user can serve as an accessidentifier for the different
`
`communication addresses from different communication modes. The access
`
`identifier can become the user's digital
`
`identity.
`
`In one embodiment, the user's
`
`other types ofidentification, such as the user's driver licenser number, can be the
`
`user's access identifier.
`
`[00025]
`
`One embodimentof the invention uses an open portal based on the
`
`web. Based on the portal, the user can securely determine who can reach him at
`
`what conditions. This can be done based onastatus indicator. As an example,
`
`this indicator is determined according to the status of the user,
`
`the access
`
`priorities of the person trying to reach the user (or the relationship or the lack of
`
`relationship between the user and the person), and/or the urgency of the
`message from the person. The status of the user can be dynamically determined,
`
`based on the current condition(s) of the user. The portal can allow the user and
`
`the person to select different options, which can be modified as desired. For
`
`example, the relationship can be preset by the user and stored in a database,
`
`while the urgency of the message can be set by the person.
`
`[00026]
`
`Thus,
`
`in one embodiment, the portal can be used to control the
`
`selection and setting of different intelligent communication modesfor the user.
`
`These intelligent communication modes allow priorities of various kinds of
`
`communication options to be set by the user. The portal allows worldwide access
`
`to the user, and can dynamically determine, for example, whether a call initiated
`
`atdifferent time by different callers should be accepted by the userin real-time or
`
`handled by other mechanisms. From this information, communication requests
`
`can be classified, for example,
`
`into different degrees of undesirability. Some
`
`requests can be automatically blocked from the user. Others can be diverted and
`
`handled by other mechanism, such as diverting a phone call to an email or voice
`
`mail.
`
`[00027]
`
`In one embodiment, the portal or gateway also includes a database
`
`to keep track of the user's different contacts or acquaintances, and the access
`
`priorities of each contact. The user can modify information in the database, such
`
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`

`as assigning and/or changing the priorities of
`
`the contacts. Based on the
`
`information (or lack of information) in the database of the contacttrying to access
`
`the User, and based on the status of the user, the gateway can automatically
`
`select an intelligent mode of communication for the user. This selection can be
`
`done dynamically.
`
`[00028]
`
`In one embodiment, the portal can dynamically change the access
`
`priorities of a caller trying to reach the user. For example, previously the calleris
`
`of high priority to the user, and the user has set her accesspriorities accordingly.
`
`Lately, every time the caller trying to reach the user, the request was denied.
`
`After a preset numberof rejections, the portal can automatically send a message
`
`to the user, asking the user if the user would like to lower the accesspriority of
`
`the caller.
`
`If
`
`the response is affirmative,
`
`the caller's priority is automatically
`
`reduced,
`
`[00029]
`
`In another embodiment, the user does not haveto setpriorities of
`
`each contact. The system monitors every call, and provides the contact’s identity
`
`to the user. Based on the user's reaction to the call (e.g. accepting or rejecting it),
`
`the system automatically sets the contact's priorities.
`
`Im one embodiment, the
`
`system can then query the user for approval on the setting, and allow the userto
`
`adjust
`
`it as necessary.
`
`In another embodiment,
`
`the system can continue to
`
`modify the caller's priorities based on the user’s reaction to the caller's
`
`subsequentcalls.
`
`[00030]
`
`In one embodiment, the user could keep information he believes to
`
`be sensitive local
`
`in a different database. Such information can be stored
`
`securely under the user's direct control. The portal can retrieve information from
`
`the different database when required.
`
`In another embodiment,
`
`the user can
`
`restrict orlimit such retrieval process.
`
`[00031]
`
`Additional confidentiality can be provided.
`
`In one embodiment,
`
`using phone calls as an example, the user can be aware of the identity of the
`
`caller even without being informed of the numberof the caller. Similarly, the caller
`
`can reach the user without being aware of the number of the phonethe useris
`
`using to receive the call. The user can keep his location and/or status confidential
`
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`

`but still can receive the communication. This can be useful because there are
`
`situations, for example, when the user does not want to disclose his contact
`
`information but the user needsto receive services provided bythe caller.
`
`[00032]
`
`One approach to maintain such confidentiality while maintaining
`
`real-time communication is based on a system that digitally identifies the
`
`identities of the caller and the receiver. Note that the term caller is used in
`
`general. It is not just limited to phone calls, but they can be any personorentity
`
`requesting to communicate with the user, such as trying to send a message to
`
`the user. As a separate note,
`
`the caller can also be a user of different
`
`embodiments of the invention.
`
`
`
`[00033] system can_establishAfter determining the identities, the
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`connections between the caller and the user in real time. Though contacts are
`
`established, the system only needs to ensure the identities of the caller and the
`
`user to each other. However, the system does not have to disclose the phone
`
`numbers, electronic addresses, physical locations and/or other attributes of the
`
`caller and the user to each other.
`
`In one embodiment, real time implies that the
`
`time required for the identification is similar to the typical time required to set up,
`for example, a telephone call. The system can be a portal based on the web.
`
`[00034]
`
`In one embodiment, a portal also holds the user's electronic
`
`calendar. The calendar can be programmable, with entries set by the user. The
`
`portal can automatically and securely set appointments for the user since the
`
`portal Knows the identity of the caller, and the status and schedule of the user.
`
`For example, the appointment can be for a conferencecall.
`
`[00035]
`
`To illustrate,
`
`in one embodiment, a portal provides a number of
`
`intelligent communication modes (ICM) for the user to select as shownin Figure
`
`1. There are three columns in the table.
`
`If the communication mode selected in
`
`the second column does not work,
`
`the portal automatically defaults to the
`
`corresponding approach in the third column. For example, under ICM 1, if the
`
`mobile phone is busy, default to voice mail. Some of the selections do not have
`
`any default becauseit may not be necessary to default. For example, under ICM
`
`8, the incoming message goesdirectly to voice mail with instant notification to
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`mobile devices of the user. The incoming message can usually go to voice mail.
`
`There is no need to default.
`
`{00036}
`
`As a receiver of communication, the user can define a numberof
`
`contact classes, as shown in Figure 2. The user can set up a numberof urgency
`
`classes, as shown in Figure 3. The user can define a numberof status, as shown
`
`in Figure 4. Then, based on tables in Figures 1-4, the user can set up an Access
`
`Priority Database for different ContactClasses, as shownin Figure 5.
`
`[00037]
`
`As another example, the user can categorize the following contacts
`
`into the corresponding ContactClasses:
`
`Alice (Wife)
`ContactClass1
`
`Peter (Close Friend)
`ContactClass2
`Colina
`(Close
`Friend's
`ContactClass2
`
`|
`
`
`
`wife)
`
`[00038]
`
`Peter wants to make a mobile phone call
`
`to the user.
`
`In one
`
`embodiment, Peter calls a portal. As an example, the portal can be the user’s ISP.
`
`The portal first verifies the caller's identity to be Peter. This can be done, for
`
`example, by a public key challenge based on Peter having a public key digital
`
`certificate. In another example, Peter is also a registered user of the portal, Then,
`
`Peter's identity can be more readily identified or verified.
`
`{00039}
`
`In one embodiment, after verification, a virtual address/number for
`
`the communication session is created allowing Peter to reach the user, which can
`
`be by phone. The user's phone numberdoes not have to be disclosed to Peter.
`
`Similarly, Peter's mobile phone number does not have to be disclosed to the user.
`
`The portal can assure the user that the person calling is Peter based on an
`
`identification verification process, such as ones described above.
`{00040}
`In establishing contact, the portal can access the user's database
`and determine that Peter belongs to ContactClass2. The database can, for
`
`example, be in the portal.
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`[00041]
`
`In
`
`another
`
`embodiment,
`
`the database
`
`is
`
`in
`
`a_
`
`personal
`
`communication device of
`
`the user. The
`
`portal accesses
`
`the personal
`
`communication device to determine Peter's ContactClass.
`
`[00042]
`
`Based on the ContactClass information, the status of the user and
`
`Peter's urgency setting, the user may receive Peter's call directly. As another
`
`example, Peter may be asked to leave a voice mail to the user, while the useris
`
`notified by a mobile short message regarding an incoming call from Peter.
`
`{00043}
`
`As additional examples, in one embodiment, location information of
`
`the user could be determined based on GPS information from, for example, the
`
`user's cell phone.
`
`[00044]
`
`In one embodiment,
`
`the user
`
`receives messages through a
`
`handheld device, such as a phone, and the phone has a switch. The switch can
`
`be a physical button or a software setting, such as a pull-down menu. The user
`
`could set his status dynamically by changing the physical or logical position of
`
`the switch, For example, one position can indicate that the user is very busy, and
`
`should only be interrupted by an urgent message from the user’s closest contacts,
`
`such as his wife or parents. Another position can indicate that the user’s status
`
`allows the user to receive any messages from anyone.
`
`[00045]
`
`As explained above, based on an embodiment, a message is
`
`electronically conveyed by a central network server, such as a web server based
`
`on Internet protocol. A portal or gateway approach could provide general Internet
`
`access tO one or more embodiments of
`
`the communication management
`
`systems so that users can configure the system behavior they desire. The portal
`
`or gateway can then facilitate download of a database or update thereto to a
`
`communication device, such as a phone.
`
`[00046]
`
`Also, as explained above, based on an embodiment, a user could
`
`efficiently maintain his communication, and does not even have to change
`
`phones when he moves from areas covering 3G to areas that do not. These
`
`phones could be based on different communication mechanisms, such as GSM,
`
`CDMA, 3G and 4G systems. Also as explained above,
`
`the user could keep
`
`information in local databases, such as in such a phone. For example,
`
`the
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`intelligent communication modes shownin Figure 1 for the user to select are in
`
`the phone. The user could define the contact classes, such as the ones shownin
`
`Figure 2; set up the urgency classes, such as the ones shownin Figure 3; define
`
`the statuses, such as the ones shown in Figure 4; set up the Access Priority
`
`Database, such as the one shownin Figure 5; and categorize a numberof the
`
`user’s contacts into the corresponding ContactClasses,all in the phone. When a
`
`caller places a call
`
`to the phone, based on information previously set in the
`
`phone and based on the urgency class selected by the caller, the phone could
`
`automatically manage the communication. Note that the phone does not have to
`
`be a cellular phone. In one embodiment, the phone is a desk top phone.
`
`[00047]
`
`Again as explained above, the person or the caller trying to contact
`
`the user could select different options. For example, the urgency of the message
`can be set by the caller. This selection is typically in the call setup phase. In one
`
`embodiment, the caller has pre-selected the urgency class before making thecall.
`
`In another embodiment,
`
`if the caller has not selected the urgency class, the
`
`system could prompt the caller to input an urgency class or status before the call
`
`or messageis routed to the user.
`
`In yet another embodiment, different urgency
`
`classes could be defined by the caller.
`
`[00048]
`
`Different embodiments or implementations may yield different
`
`advantages. One advantageis that communications for users of electronic
`
`devices can beflexibly provided. Another advantageis that communication
`
`mode changes can be performed at an electronic device to better suit the needs
`
`or condition of the electronic device or user preferences.
`
`!n still another
`
`advantage, a user can provide feedbackto a caller without answering a voice call
`
`from the caller.
`
`[00049]
`
`Another aspectof the invention pertains to improved approachesto
`
`respond to an incoming text message. The improved approaches enable a
`
`recipient to provide a reply messageto aninitiator. The incoming text message
`
`can be presented to the recipient with an audio or textual presentation.
`
`Thereafter, a reply text message can be sent backto the initiator. The recipient
`
`can form the reply text message by recording a brief audio message or entering
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`a text message.
`
`In the case in which a brief audio messageis used, the audio
`
`message can be automatically converted to a text message before being
`
`transmitted to the initiator.
`
`[00050]
`
`FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a message presentation process 600
`
`according to one embodimentof the invention. The message presentation
`
`process 600is performed by an electronic device, such as a mobile
`
`communication device.
`
`[00051]
`
`The message presentation process 600 begins with a decision 602
`
`that determines whether an incoming text message is present. Typically, the
`
`incoming text message would be transmitted to the mobile communication device
`
`from another communication device. When the decision 602 determines that an
`
`incoming text message is not present, then the message presentation process
`
`600 awaits such messa